Long leaves it late to hand Royals sensational winner

Reading 2 Newcastle 1

Shane Long netted a sensational winner for Reading only seconds after coming on as a substitute against Newcastle.

Sam Allardyce’s side thought they were going to leave the Madejski Stadium with a point after Michael Duberry’s own goal had cancelled out Dave Kitson’s early opener.

But the young Irishman had other ideas and won the game with his second touch of the game to record his second goal of the season.

Faye was booked for hacking Lita down and a cleverly worked free-kick move saw Sonko volley straight at Given, having lost his marker.

Then Hunt was felled right on the edge of the area but Lita’s free-kick was straight at the wall. Newcastle replaced Faye with James Milner with 15 minutes remaining.

Hunt was penalised foul a challenge on Milner and from Emre’s free-kick, which had been flicked on at the near post by Smith, Duberry chested the ball into his own goal.

But Reading had the last word and, just seconds after he had replaced Lita, Shane Long made it 2-1. Sonko headed the ball on and the Irishman, having taken a touch past Given, hooked the ball high into the net.

Cacapa put the ball in the net at the other end but it was ruled out for offside.